Metallic ceiling



(No Model.)

I'. G, CALDWELL. METALLIC CEILING.

Patented July I1 l0. III Il lall m M m n UNITED STATES FRANK G. CALDWELL, OF VHEELING, VEST VIRGINIA.

PATENT OFFICE.Y

METALLIC CEILING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 431,436, dated July 1, 1890.

Application filed February 12, 1890, Serial No. 340,194. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK G. CALDWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wheeling, in the county of Ohio and State of Vest Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Metallic Ceilings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a panel for ceilings and walls composed of a frame of wood, sheet metal, or other suitable material,within which is mounted an ornament-ed or embossed metallic plate or panel, which is placed under such tension that it cannot buckle, warp, or wrinkle, and which is, moreover, so mounted in or upon the supporting-frame thatl it shall be capable of packing for transportation without danger of contact from contiguous panels. It is my purpose also to provide 'a simple and comparativelyinexpensive article of manufacture of the character specied, which may be used in the formation of ceilings or vertical walls, the framing in which the metallic panel is set and stretched, forming a medium of attachment and affording a species of border surrounding the separate embossed panels, which is susceptible of a contrasting decoration by the formation of molding or beading or by the application of paint or gilding or one` or more conjointly.

The invention consists in the several novel features of construction and new combinations of parts, hereinafter fully set forth, and then definitely pointed outin the claims, forming part of this specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan View of a ceilingnpanel embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview of the frame, the members thereof being slightly separated.

In the said drawings, the referencenumeral l designates the metallic portion or body of the panel, which may be composed of any suitable variety of metal, the same being embossed in relief in any suitable ornamental pattern. These panels are usually made of such dimensions that when mounted in the frames they shall be about four feet in length by two feet in width over all.

The numeral 2 denotes the side bars of the frame, which may be made of wood, sheet metal, or other suitable material. Each of these side bars is provided upon its under edge or surface with a longitudinal groove 3, of suitable depth and of such width as to admit the edges of the embossed metallic sheet or plate 2. At each end these side bars are beveled oif upon their inner or adjacent edges or faces at a small angle, the beveled surfaces upon the same ends of the opposite inembers divergiug and forming two inwardlyconverging edges or surfaces.

The numeral 4 denotes the end pieces of the frame, which are formed of a material similar to that composing the side bars, and are provided with similar grooves 5 to receive the edges of the embossed metallic plates l. The

-slightly at an angle corresponding withV the bevel of the ends of the side bars, but reversely thereto, for a reason presently to be shown.

In the manufacture of the panel the edges of the embossed plate l are inserted in the grooves 3 of the side bars, and are fastened therein by nails, screws, or other suitable fastenings driven through or mounted in the wood and engaging the metal. As the parts are manufactured to a certain definite gage, the engagement of the parts in thismanner will bring the side bars into parallelism, but will cause them to approach each other so far that a certain degree of force will be necessary in order to introduce the end pieces between them. The side bars being thussecured to the frame, the end pieces 4 are entered between the beveled ends of the side bars, and being forced into position to bring the edges of the embossed metallic plate into the grooves of said end pieces their beveled extremities, acting upon the reversely-beveled end edges of the side pieces, force the latter slightly apart, and thereby impart a strain or tension to the embossed plate, whereby it is drawn perfectly flat, the embossed surfaces affording a slight yield, which holds the plate or metallic sheet under tension, thereby counteracting all tendency to wrinkling or buckling. The end bars may be fastn cned byany suitable means, either similar to or dierent from those employed in attaching the side pieces to the embossed panel.

Inasmuch as the grooves 3 are formed in extremities of these end pieces i are beveledl ICG the inner edges of the frame between its outer and inner faces the embossed panel will be supported therein in such manner that the framewill afford a protection thereto should two or more of said panels be packed together for storage or transportation, thereby preserving the metal surface from scratching, denting, or other inj nry.

The exposed faces of the end bars and side pieces may be ornamentedl in any desired manner by molding, beading, painting, or gilding, or by one or all combined. A tenon 6 may also be formed upon each end of each end bar, adapted to engage an open mortise in the end of the corresponding side piece; but this construction is not essential, as I may unite the parts by a different construction.

By varying the patterns embossed upon the metallic panels and the ornamentation of the outer faces of the side bars and end pieces of the frame an infinite variety of ornamentation may be afforded. By constructing the frame of sheet metal instead of wood, as may easily be done, a ceiling` or wall of fire-proof character and of highly-ornamental quality may be provided at a comparatively low cost.

My invention is not confined to an embossed metallic panel, but may be applied to a construction in which the panel in perfectly plain. In either form the construction provided will impart such a tension to the metallic plate as to prevent all possibility of sagging, buckling, or wrinkling and retain said plates in perfectly smooth, even, and uniform condition.

In the construction and application of these metallic panels prior to my invention it has been necessary to apply strips between the frame and the studding or rafters to prevent contact between the latter and metal panel, by which said panel might be bulged or swelled, giving a convex surface exposed to View. By mounting the panel in longitndinal grooves intermediate between the youter or exposed face of the frame and the face attached to the rafters this interposition e,

1. A ceiling-panel consisting of a metallic plate, two parallel side bars having grooves in which the edges of said plate are introduced and secured, and two end pieces inserted between the ends of the side bars to stretch the metallic plate, substantially as described.

2. A ceiling-panel consisting of a metallic plate, two parallel side bars having longitudinal grooves in which the edges of said plate are inserted and secured, and two end pieces having beveled extremities inserted between reverse bevels on the inner edges of the side bars at their ends, said end pieces having grooves to receive the edges of the metal panel or plate, substantially as described.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a panel for walls and ceilings, consisting of an embossed metallic plate and an inclosing-frame of wood or other suitable material, having y longitudinal grooves upon its inner edges to receive the edges of the embossed plate, substantially as described.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a ceiling-panel consisting of an embossed plate of metal and an inclosing rectangular frame having a longitudinal groove upon its inner edge between the inner and outer surfaces to receive the edges of the embossed plate, and ornamented upon its outer or exposed face, substantially as described.

5. Aceiling-panel consisting of an embossed or otherwise ornalnented sheet of metal, in combination with two side pieces having grooves within which the edges of said plates are inserted and secured, and two end bars similarly grooved and provided with beveled extremities adapted to be inserted between reversely-beveled surfaces on the inner ends of the side pieces to separate the latter and stretch the metallic panel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK G. CALDWELL.

Vitnesses:

W. F. PETERSON, L. S. DELAPLAIN. 

